January 31, 2011

This Week in The National Law Journal

Goodbye, LSAT?: The American Bar Association is reviewing whether to make the Law School Admissions Test voluntary rather than mandatory for accreditation, Karen Sloan reports. The LSAT, required for nearly 40 years, has proven the best predictor of success during the first year of law school. The ABA is considering standards that give law schools more autonomy.

Lingerie Liability: Venable and former U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh (D-Ind.) are accused in a suit in D.C. Superior Court of exposing an Alexandria, Va., business consultant to a fraud complaint after the firm allegedly bungled the opening of a Victoria's Secret franchise in Puerto Rico. Jeff Jeffrey reports the case is set for a scheduling conference later this week. Venable's defense team included Robert Wilkins, a partner at the firm until he was confirmed in December to a seat on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Twitter Love: Singer Courtney Love's lawyers are preparing to settle a defamation suit filed by a fashion designer who was subject to rants on Love's Twitter account. Amanda Bronstad reports a settlement would deny litigators long-sought guidance over damaging comments on social media.

Defending the Budget: Government contractors are getting to know their lawyers a little better as the Defense Department plans to cut $78 billion in military spending, on top of the $100 billion in efficiency savings announced last summer, Jenna Greene reports. Terminating a government contract is no simple task. Enter the savvy lawyer to try to save a program or soften the blow.

Tough Road: Marcia Coyle reports on the Obama administration's Solicitor General nominee Donald Verrilli Jr. Verrilli, the White House deputy counsel, would fill the position currently held by acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal. Coyle examines the Supreme Court docket Verrilli would face if confirmed. And then there's this: Verrilli "holes himself up with a whole mess of smoked salmon and doesn't talk to anyone" in the 24 hours before an argument, according to a friend, Jenner & Block partner Paul Smith.

Fighting for Fees: The plaintiffs' attorneys representing a class of Native Americans in a landmark suit in Washington want at least $223 million in compensation for their work steering the litigation to a $3.4 billion settlement agreement. Under the terms of the settlement, the attorneys for lead plaintiff Elouise Cobell agreed to assert no more than $99.9 million. But the lawyers argue that $99.9 million is not fair compensation. The Justice Department is expected in February to respond to the plaintiffs' fee petition.